Coronavirus and flu vaccines could be COMBINED this winter

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Dr Matthew Duchars, head of VMIC, said

Dr Matthew Duchars, head of VMIC, said ‘it will save a lot of time and it would be much more practical to give just one shot’ for Covid and flu shots

Covid and flu vaccines could potentially be mixed into a single injection to save time and make future booster programs more convenient, it was claimed today.

Dr Matthew Duchars, managing director of the Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Center (VMIC), said the Oxford facility is looking at whether a single vaccine could be given to protect people against the virus and the flu.

The minister has yet to confirm that booster shots will be given this fall, with No 10 awaiting advice from its panel of experts before continuing with its plans.

But Health Secretary Sajid Javid said last week that the UK “will be able to start the recall program” from next month, if the government is given the green light.

Up to 32 million people over the age of 50 could be invited to receive complementary injections, which can be given at the same time as the annual flu shot.

Sources in Whitehall said the plan this fall is to administer Covid and flu shots at the same time in different arms.

The vaccine manufacturing center had received around £ 215million in government funding in March and is expected to produce 70million doses in just four months once operational.

The vaccine manufacturing center had received around £ 215million in government funding in March and is expected to produce 70million doses in just four months once operational.

What’s the plan for Covid boosters?

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, which advises the government on vaccine deployment, issued interim opinions in June for Covid recalls.

He said any potential third-dose program should be offered in two stages starting in September, starting with those most at risk.

This would include people in nursing homes, those over 70, frontline health workers and vulnerable adults.

Secondly, reminders should be given to people over 50, over 16 at risk of influenza or Covid and those living with immunocompromised people.

Scientists said their final advice “could change dramatically” and would depend on emerging data, including how long two jabs last.

Groups identified by the JCVI are strongly advised to get the flu shot and government sources have said the plan is to give the two injections at the same time in different arms.

Sources revealed that the injections would be distributed to up to 2,000 pharmacies, with the goal of delivering 2.5 million doses per week.

But Dr Duchars told The Telegraph that VMIC is considering combining the two for future deployments.

He said: “It will save a lot of time and it would be much more practical to give just one injection, so this is something that we and the vaccine developers and producers will be looking at.

“Let’s say we have to give a seasonal vaccine and people need a flu shot, and a vaccine for Covid and another for something else.

“If you can put them all in one, then that’s obviously better.”

The Oxford-based VMIC was announced in 2018 as the UK’s premier vaccine manufacturing center and was slated to open in 2022.

The government said at the time it would invest £ 66million in the center, but received funding of £ 215million in March and was accelerated to help fight Covid.

It was founded by the University of Oxford, Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Once operational, the VMCI will produce 70 million doses in just four months, or nearly 600,000 doses per day.

Discussing the capacity of the center, Dr Duchars said: “Our goal is reasonable. I am convinced that we can do it.

“Can we do it faster? Perhaps. With a bit of luck. We will absolutely work to try to do so.

But the government does not need to use the center until 2022 because it has already obtained enough vaccines for the rest of the year.

No10 has already purchased 60 million doses of Pfizer jab for use this fall.

And Whitehall insiders say ministers have already reached a deal for 35 million more doses of Pfizer vaccine for next winter.

Dr Duchars added: “In our discussions, their plan is to use the VMIC for the revaccination campaign in 2022. This is what we have refocused our efforts and our attention on.”

This comes as Mr Javid said last week that when the government receives the notice from the JCVI “we can start the recall program”, signaling that the government expects the plans to be approved.

The NHS has prepared for the deployment, which the Health Secretary says is expected to start in early September.

The JCVI said in June that any potential recall program should be offered in two stages starting in September, starting with those most at risk.

This would include people in nursing homes, those over 70, frontline health workers and vulnerable adults.

But government sources said earlier this month that the doses will be offered to people over 50, immunocompromised and NHS and nursing home staff from September 6 – which equates to 32 million Britons .

The source revealed that the injections would be distributed to up to 2,000 pharmacies, with the aim of delivering 2.5 million doses per week.

It is a government source revealed to the Mail on Sunday that Brits eligible for the boosters might not be considered completely stung if they do not show up for a third dose.

The source told the newspaper: “It is assumed that you will need to have the most up-to-date health passport.

“So if the advice is to have a booster six months after your second jab, then this is what you will need.”

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